Remote focus/iris controllers with the Panasonic 14-140 lens

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I was very pleased to see that the AF-100 came with a socket for a remote focus and iris controller. I therefore purchased a BeBob FOXI, which was designed for the likes of the DVX-100, having read that it performed well with the AF100.
Now my FOXI is a factory reconditioned unit, but I imagine that it works as it should, however it only controls the full range of the 14-140 lens when it is in the wider focal lengths.
When I zoom in to around 45mm, the furthest focus that it will allow, drops from Infinity and at 140mm it will only allow focus out to about 9 metres. The FOXI always allows close focus which is 5 metres throughout the full range of the lens, but I don't want to be limited to only using it for close up work.
Any others using this device? How do the alteratives, the Varizoom PFI and the Manfrotto 521PFI compare?
A remote controller on the pan bar is such a godsend if you mainly operate from a tripod and I can now use a manual follow-focus unit to work as a zoom control instead, allowing pretty easy control...I just need a controller that can work with the lenses full range.
 
Mine performs similarly. I hadn't noticed it because I hadn't been using it at long distances and long telephoto. This is certainly disappointing.

I can easily achieve infinity up to about 45mm, and after that it starts to decrease, to where at 140mm I can only get about 45 feet.

As for close focus, you say your close focus is 5 meters? That shouldn't be that way; mine is close-focus down to 1.65 feet (a little over 1/2 meter).
 
Darn, that's disappointing to hear. I have a Foxi that I use when handholding my 200, and it has become indispensable to me. I had planned to user it with the AF as well...

I've ordered the 14-140 as an interim lens until there's something better, but without the ability to use the controller, that lens is becoming more and more unappealing...
 
I'd like to hear from someone using a remote other than the FoXi, so we can determine if it's the FoXi that's limiting infinity focus, or if it happens with other controllers too.
 
Ditto...

I'd also like to hear if there are any lenses that DO work with the Foxi...
 
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Currently the three choices for remote control of focus and iris for the AF-100 are: The BeBob FOXI:

Bebob_FOXI.jpg
The Manfrotto 521PFI:

Manfrotto 521PFI.jpg
and the Varizoom VZ-PFI:
Vrizoom_vzpfi.jpg

As I said I've got the BeBob FOXI and the design of both the big follow-focus style control wheel and the iris 'track' is great...but it dosn't allow infinity focus beyond about 45mm on the Panasonic 14-140 lens.
Anybody with the either other controllers able to tell us how they do?
I do think these units are more convenient than manual follow focus add ons for most purposes.
 
I have 14-140mm and VZ RockPZFI. The lens firmware version is 1.4. When I zoom in to 140mm it will only allow focus out to about 9-10 metres. As for close focus, VZ RockPZFI allows close focus around a lilttle over 1/2 metres throughout the full range of the lens.
On the other hand, using the same remote controler, when i switch to Olympus 14-54mm + Panasonic adapter, I can easily achieve focus on entire range.
 
Hawk_Xp... So the VZ focus works with the Olympus 14-54 and not with the 14-140? Interesting, I would think it would be the other way around. How is that lens?

I wonder if the Foxi works with it as well... And what about other Olympus lenses? I'd love to hear that the Foxi works with the 14-35, I'd change my order back to that lens.
 
So the Varizoom suffers from the same limited distant focus problem with the Lumix 14-140 as the FOXI does. I wonder if Panasonic or the manufacturers would be able to address the problem?
Here's a review of the Manfrotto unit, that states that it works OK with both the Oly 14-35 and 35-100 lenses.

http://theeditman.com/blogg/2011/01/27/ElectronicFocusAndIrisForTheAF101.aspx

I think it's a pity the Bebob and the Varizoom don't suffer the problem 'the other way' ie OK at infinity but limited closer up as I currently can't even use my bebob to adjust the iris either.
 
Mac said:
Hawk_Xp... So the VZ focus works with the Olympus 14-54 and not with the 14-140?
Click to expand...
Yes, as I said. Perhaps 14-140 has a firmware issue... I don't know.
I'm happy with Olympus 14-54 (using for interviews, indoors and some outdoors) but i stil use 14-140, especially for outdoors. 14-54mm is faster than 14-140mm. Does not have AF (only push-AF; unfortunatelly, it takes 1-2 sec. to achieve) but i can use iris (auto/manual) and manual focus on VZ RockPZFI. Aperture make a light noise when iris value are changed. Not tested yet other Olympus lenses, so I can't tell about them.
 
Boy, it seems that there is not one easy solution to this lens issue...

First I ordered the 14-140, then changed to 14-35 when I heard the Lumix is "clunky", then changed back after I heard the Zuiko was only capable of 1/3rd stop increments... I'm primarily getting the AF to use my Leica R lenses, but it would be nice to have a useable zoom for ever-day wear.

I might go for the 14-54 (although Abels doesn't stock it) since it's cheap and I really only want it until some manufacturer fills this void - which is inevitable.
 
I checked the remote focus using a 20K POT and the Panasonic 14-140mm lens. The required resistance to provide infinity focus changes with the focal length. At 14mm, infinity focus is achieved at about 15.8k ohms. At 140mm, infinity focus is reached at about 19.5k ohms. So the position on the Foxi or other remote zoom will change with the focal length. I have to assume that the POT on the Foxi does not go to 20K, but that seems doubtful, as the 20K POT is published by DIYers as the proper POT to use for the Panasonic remote focus interface.

This stinks. This says you have to change focus as you zoom for those of us that plan to add a power zoom to the 14-140mm lens.

[edit] - changed values for infinity at each focal length.
 
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Paul,

I knew nothing about the circuitry to achieve focus control via the remote socket, but since these are passive devices I assumed that there was just a variable resistance pot involved.
I believe you're saying that even if the manufacturer got the value correct to allow infinity at the telephoto end, it will alter as we come back to wide as the required resistance value is different?

David Taylor
 
Yes, that is correct. The measurements I made show that an external focus controller will have to adjust focus if the focal length is changed. From what others are saying, it seems that some remote focus products do not have the full range required for this lens.
 
I tried my 521PFI with the 14-140 and man it's smooth. A bit of lag when you turn the focus wheel a bit faster, but it's very smooth and so much better than turning on the lens barrel. There are limits on limiting the focus range but within the limit you can do rack focus and it stays true ever time you change focus spot. I think it makes this lens and lenses like Olympus 35-100 much more useful in giving you repeatable focus pulls.

With the 14-140 it's dead silent with both focus and iris.
 
very interesting thread. Looks like the implementation of the remote control asks for a new FW at least. Lets hope Jan can push this to the responsible department.
 
Peter (editman)...so the Manfrotto 521PFI is the one to get if you want to use remote focus with a Lumix 14-140mm? It copes with focus from infinity to 0.5 metres throughout the full range 14 to 140mm?

David T
 
I didn't find any limit on the near limit but couldn't really try out infinity indoors. But I think there is a limitation when using the limiter inside the 521PFI. When in standard mode it will focus from near limit to infinity as far as I can see.

To explain abit about how the two modes in the 521PFI works. In standard mode it works like a focus device pulling focus but in custom mode you can limit min and max so that the full 270 degree turn on the wheel will be within the limits you set. In this mode there are limits to how close and far you can set limits depending on the lens you use. The wheel has hard stops so this is much better than the endless focus-by-wire on the lens it self.
 
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